Embarking on vacation to an exotic locale feels pretty unlikely in the near-term. As we hunker down at home to wait out COVID-19, memories (or daydreams) of relaxing times, surrounded by exotic, lush foliage, will have to sustain us for a bit longer. For our household, this summer's big adventure will be a perpetual coronacation in our own backyard. ð Lucky for us, we happen to be homebodies and enjoy relaxing in our garden. If you'd like to up the vacation vibe in your own backyard retreat, adding big foliage to your garden is a great way to lend a touch of the exotic.
But first, a question: Are you looking to add some all-season structure, or are you looking for pure, unadulterated summer time fun? Your answer is going to dictate whether you're looking for an evergreen leaf or whether you'll consider options whose contribution is more transient. Or better yet, perhaps a bit of both?
Below, you'll find a sampling of plants with big, bold leaves that will add a touch of the tropical to your garden. (Of course, the real fun happens when you expand upon your selection to create a vignette using several plants with an air of the exotic.) Enjoy browsing the options below. When you find one that captures your imagination and that you'd like to add to your garden, click through to get ideas of what to plant with it.
¡Arriba, Arriba! ¡Ãndale, Ãndale!
Raring to Go, Year-round
Acanthus mollis 'Hollard's Gold'
Hollard's Gold Bear's Breeches
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Aspidistra elatior
Cast Iron Plant
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Deep Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Open Shade
Zone:
10, 8, 9
Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'
Speckled Japanese Aralia
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade, Deep Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'
Variegated Japanese Aralia
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Fatsia japonica 'Variegata' Camouflage
Camouflage⢠Variegated Japanese Aralia, Japanese Fatsia
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Phormium cookianum 'Tricolor'
Mountain Flax Tricolor
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Filtered Sun, Full Sun, Morning Sun, Part Sun
Zone:
10, 8, 9
Phormium 'Jester'
Jester New Zealand Flax
Type:
Perennial, Shrub, Tender Perennial
Exposure:
Afternoon Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun
Zone:
10, 11, 8, 9
Schefflera delavayi
Hardy Schefflera
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Schefflera taiwaniana 'Yuan Shan'
Hardy Schefflera
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Trachycarpus fortunei
Windmill Palm
Type:
Shrub, Tree
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9
x Fatshedera lizei 'Annemieke'
Annemieke Tree Ivy
Type:
Perennial, Shrub, Vine or Climber
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade, Deep Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Part-year Party Animals
Aralia cordata 'Sun King'
Golden Aralia
Sun King Spikenard
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade, Deep Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Canna 'Bengal Tiger'
Bengal Tiger Canna Lily
CANNA 'PRETORIA'
CANNA GENERALIS 'AUREOSTRIATA'
Type:
Bulb / Corm / Tuber, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Canna indica 'Phasion'
Tropicanna Canna
Type:
Bulb / Corm / Tuber, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Part Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Canna musifolia 'Red'
Banana Canna (Red Form)
Type:
Perennial, Tender Perennial, Tropical
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun
Zone:
7, 8, 9, 10
Farfugium japonicum var. giganteum
FARFUGIUM TUSSILAGINEA 'GIGANTEA'
Type:
Perennial, Tender Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade, Deep Shade
Zone:
8, 9, 10
Hosta 'Blue Angel'
Hosta Blue Angel
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Hosta 'Sagae'
Sagae Hosta
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Sun, Part Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Open Shade, Deep Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Hosta 'Sum & Substance'
Sum and Substance Hosta
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey'
Little Honey Oakleaf Hydrangea
Type:
Shrub
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Morning Sun, Filtered Sun, Open Shade, Open Shade
Zone:
5, 6, 7, 8
Melianthus major
Honey Bush
Type:
Perennial, Shrub
Exposure:
Full Sun, Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
Zone:
8, 9, 10
Musa basjoo
Hardy Banana, Japanese Fiber Banana
Type:
Tree, Perennial
Exposure:
Full Sun, Afternoon Sun, Filtered Sun, Part Sun
Zone:
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Podophyllum pleianthum
Chinese May Apple
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Part Shade, Full Shade, Full Shade, Open Shade, Open Shade, Deep Shade
Zone:
7, 8, 9
Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold'
Russian Comfrey
Variegated Comfrey
Type:
Perennial
Exposure:
Filtered Sun, Full Sun, Morning Sun, Open Shade, Part Shade, Part Sun
Zone:
4, 5, 6, 7
This Garden is the Ultimate Staycation
To get your creative juices flowing, tour this fabulous Portland garden, designed by Erin Ray.
